From the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 up through the atomic age and our “anthropocene” era, we live with “the imagination of catastrophe.” Not only have disasters become all too probable, but the idea of disaster haunts how we think about our lives on every level, from global planning to individual relationships. How then may we learn to live and think with and within the expectation of catastrophe? Moderated by n+1 editors Marco Roth and Mark Greif this symposium, “Catastrophe Practice,” begins with the premise that catastrophe is the norm or rule of modern life, the nightmare inversion to the Enlightenment account of human progress.

Participants in this wide ranging and interdisciplinary discussion of how human beings respond to catastrophe will include:

Jean-Pierre Dupuya philosopher, a risk theorist and a Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at the École Polytechnique, Paris. Dupuy is currently a researcher at the Center for the Study of Language and Information at Stanford University, courtesy of the Department of Political Science.

Jonathan Leara philosopher, a psychoanalyst, and the John U. Nef Distinguished Service Professor at the legendary Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago, where he is also a professor in the Department of Philosophy.

Michel Lussaulta French urbanist and a geographer. He is currently the president of Université de Lyons.

Josh Neufelda graphic artist and novelist famous for his portrayal of Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath.

n+1 is a print and digital magazine of literature, culture, and politics published three times a year. We also post new online-only work several times each week and publish books expanding on the interests of the magazine.